Designers
Designers
Designers
Hikaya Studio
A matchmaking platform where designers and artisans co-create ethical, story-driven fashion.
Key Words
Designers
Sahar Dadabai
Sherifa Kanoo
Deemah Alsharif
SUMMARY
We started by asking why artisan collaborations are still so difficult to execute ethically. We identified a clear gap—not only within Fashion Revolution Pakistan, but across global brands facing backlash for unfair partnerships and cultural misrepresentation. Artisans lack credit and access, while designers lack reliable systems. In response, we developed a platform that matches designers with artisans, structures the process, and transforms collaborations into transparent, long-lasting partnerships that benefit both artisans and designers.
challenge
We identified that artisans need support in understanding global markets, while designers struggle to tell these stories without appearing exploitative, and there was no structured system in place for equitable collaborations with artisans, despite their high level of craft. This revealed an opportunity to build a platform that brings dignity, visibility, and fair systems to artisans, while also providing brands with cultural insight and authentic storytelling. This project also pushed us to explore a new B2B space beyond our prior consumer-focused work.
Outcome
Our project ultimately took the shape of a dual system, combining a digital platform and a storytelling engine. The platform enables verified matching between designers and artisans, while managing contracts, payments, and collaboration workflows to ensure transparency and fairness. Alongside this, we built a storytelling layer that generates tailored cultural narratives and marketing assets based on each brand and artisan collaboration. This directly addresses stakeholder needs by giving artisans visibility and dignity, while helping designers access trusted sourcing and culturally informed storytelling without misrepresentation.
MEET THE Designers:
Sahar Dadabai
Sherifa Kanoo
Deemah Alsharif